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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Distribution \Dis`tri*bu"tion\, n. [L. distributio: cf. F.
distribution.]
1. The act of distributing or dispensing; the act of dividing
or apportioning among several or many; apportionment; as,
the distribution of an estate among heirs or children.
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The phenomena of geological distribution are exactly
analogous to those of geography. --A. R.
Wallace.
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2. Separation into parts or classes; arrangement of anything
into parts; disposition; classification.
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3. That which is distributed. "Our charitable distributions."
--Atterbury.
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4. (Logic) A resolving a whole into its parts.
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5. (Print.) The sorting of types and placing them in their
proper boxes in the cases.
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6. (Steam Engine) The steps or operations by which steam is
supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke
of the piston; viz., admission, suppression or cutting
off, release or exhaust, and compression of exhaust steam
prior to the next admission.
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{Geographical distribution}, the natural arrangements of
animals and plants in particular regions or districts.

Syn: Apportionments; allotment; dispensation; disposal;
dispersion; classification; arrangement.
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